Saudi Arabia said to agree to $500m Tunisia loan

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was in Tunisia as part of a regional trip before headed to the G-20 meeting in Argentina

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi (R) receives Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman upon his arrival at the presidential palace in Carthage on the eastern outskirts of the capital Tunis on November 27, 2018.

By Bloomberg

Thu 29 Nov 2018 08:23 AM

Saudi Arabia has agreed to lend $500 million to Tunisia at preferential interest rates, a Tunisian government official said, part of a slew of deals set to be announced days after a visit by embattled Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was met with street protests.

The interest rate has yet to be decided, the official said, declining to be named as the information is not public.

Several hundred protesters rallied in the Tunisian capital on Tuesday condemning Prince Mohammed, the de facto ruler of the world’s top oil exporter, over the murder of columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month.

The 33-year-old crown prince dropped by the North African country on his first trip abroad since the Khashoggi controversy provoked an international outcry. He arrived in Argentina on Wednesday where he plans to attend the Group of 20 summit.